Eye Conditions Related To Diabetes - Retinopathy, Cataracts And Reduced Vision (Glaucoma)

Some of the many possible long-term complications of diabetes are various eye conditions. Some of these conditions include retinopathy, cataracts, and reduced vision. Long-term uncontrolled diabetes and lack of professional eye care can even lead to blindness!

The bad news is that diabetics are at much higher risk for eye problems than individuals without diabetes. The good news is that you, as a diabetic, can avoid these complications and save your eyesight. Saving your eyesight requires diligence and preventative care, but nothing out of the ordinary. You can definitely do what it takes to protect your eyes.

The most important thing that you need to do in order to prevent the development of eye conditions like retinopathy and cataracts is to have good control of your blood sugar. Follow your diabetic diet and take medications as directed to maintain good blood sugar levels. Check your sugar levels throughout the day, or as instructed by your doctor, to assure that you are on track. If your blood sugar levels are out of range for more than a couple of days, call your doctor to ask what should be done.

All of the negative long-term consequences of diabetes can be traced to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. When any person, diabetic or not, eats a food that contains sugars or carbohydrates, the body digests these sugars and then puts them into the bloodstream where cells will take the sugar and use it for energy. A diabetic’s body has lost the ability to get the sugars from the blood into the cells, so the sugar stays in the blood. Insulin or medications will help the body to use the sugars so that they do not accumulate in the blood.

The sugars will stay in the bloodstream if the diabetic is not following their doctor’s instructions. The sugar makes the blood thicker than it should be, which causes circulation problems. The small blood vessels in the eye are affected because the sugar-thickened blood cannot be easily pumped in and out of the smaller vessels. Eventually, this will cause damage to the eye and possible blindness.

To avoid these complications and save your eyesight, make sure that you have good control of your blood sugar levels. You should also visit your eye doctor at least once a year to have a screening. An eye doctor can check for early signs of damage, some of which can be treated before it becomes a more serious problem.

Don’t leave your eyesight to chance! Work with your doctor to control your blood sugar and get yearly eye exams to screen for damage.

Next article: Diabetes Complications - Kidney Problems (Diabetic Nephropathy)